VALDOSTA, Ga. – The No. 8/10 Valdosta State women's basketball team ran its winning streak to 17-straight games and won the 20
th game of the season Thursday evening in a 76-53 victory over visiting Christian Brothers at The Complex. The Lady Blazers were led by a career-high 18 points from junior
Victoria Ikenasio on 8 of 12 from the field and 2 of 3 from the line leading four players in double figures.
With the win, VSU improved to 20-2 overall and 17-1 in Gulf South Conference play as it clinched a home game on "Super Tuesday" on Mar. 5, in the quarterfinal round of the Gulf South Conference Basketball Championship. Tickets will go on sale for the quarterfinal round game on Friday, Feb. 9, in the VSU Athletic Ticket Office or by calling 229-333-SEAT (7328).
CBU fell to 2-19 overall and 2-15 in league play. The 20 wins marked the third-straight season VSU has won 20 or more games under fifth-year head coach
Deandra Schirmer, who improved to 104-30 during her tenure at VSU and is 80-19 in GSC play. The win also marked the 20
th season of 20 or more victories for VSU since 1975, and the first time VSU has won 20 or more games in three-straight seasons since 2006-2010, when it won 20 games in four-straight seasons.
Along with Ikenasio, senior
Emma Martin went 6 of 7 from the field and 3 of 4 from distance for 15 points, while junior
India Jordan had 11 points off the bench and two triples and senior
Lili Long also drained three treys and one free throw for ten points. VSU shot 49.1 percent from the field on 28 of 57 from the floor, while it was 8 of 18 from distance and 12 of 19 from the line. VSU held a 35-16 lead in rebounding and held a 17-5 lead in points off turnovers.
For the Lady Bucs, Kallie Searcey had a team-high 17 points on 6 of 10 from the field and 5 of 6 from the line, while Tae Leatherwood added 14 points off the bench on 5 of 9 from the field, 2 of 5 from deep and 2 of 2 from the line. The Lady Blazer "D" held CBU to 19 of 52 from the field for 36.5 percent, while it was 5 of 17 from distance (29.4) and 10 of 12 from the line.
The Lady Blazers raced out to a 10-4 lead through the first two minutes and change of the contest thanks to a pair of triples from Long. VSU then extended the lead to 14-4 with a jumper from Martin and a pair of charity tosses from junior
Kalifa Ford. The momentum continued the run to 17-5 on a triple from senior
Tamiya Francis with 3:41 to play in the opening frame. A trey from Leatherwood trimmed the lead to 19-10 and the Lady Blazers held a 21-12 through the first quarter.
VSU opened the game 8 of 15 from the field for 53.3 percent and 3 of 4 from distance and 2 of 2 from the line. CBU was 5 of 12 from the field and 1 of 2 from both the line and beyond the arc. The momentum continued for the Lady Blazers through the early moments of the second quarter as they pushed the lead to 29-12 with 7:15 to play, opening the frame on an 8-0 run.
The Lady Bucs began to find their footing with a bucket from K. Searcey and two free throws pulling the visitors within 29-16 with 5:45 to go in the half. CBU trimmed the deficit under ten points late in the frame, but Long hit one of two free throws at the buzzer for a 34-24 lead at intermission. VSU was just 5 of 14 from the field in the second quarter, while CBU was 4 of 11. For the half VSU shot 13 of 29 from the field, 4 of 10 from deep and 4 of 6 from the line, while CBU shot 9 of 23 from the field, 3 of 5 from distance and 3 of 4 from the stripe.
Individually, Ikenasio had nine points for the Lady Blazers on 4 of 7 from the field, while K. Searcey had 11 points for CBU. Lady Bucs' leading scorer for the season, Jeremia Montgomery, didn't play in the game as she entered averaging 13.3 points per game and 6.7 rebounds per contest both leading the team.
VSU regained the offensive touch early in the second half as Martin drained her second triple of the contest, while Ikenasio earned an "and one" and Martin then pushed the lead to 21 points at 49-28 as VSU began the half on a 15-4 run with 5:50 to play in the frame. VSU held a 57-39 lead through three quarters.
CBU would get as close as 15 in the fourth quarter, but the Lady Blazers stretch the lead back to 19 late with a driving layup from senior
Aleisha Curry and a 73-52 lead with 1:24 to play. Strong play down the stretch from Jordan pushed the lead over 20 with her 11
th point of the game and a 76-53 final.
VSU now will turn its sights to No. 3 Union who comes to Titletown on Saturday at 2 p.m. for a matchup of the top two teams in the GSC and a top ten nationally showdown. VSU won 83-68 on Dec. 17, 2023, in Jackson, Tenn., handing Union its only loss of the season. Fans can access links to live stats, audio/video streaming, ticket information and more for Saturday's contest at vstateblazers.com on the women's basketball schedule page.
